8 Ways to Spot Those Fake 'Benjamins'

Do you know how to detect counterfeit money in your hands? 

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office (SMCSO) wants the public to know that they have a role in maintaining the integrity of U.S. currency by becoming more familiar with U.S. money and guarding against the threat from counterfeiters. 
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In a post on their Facebook page Tuesday, the SMCSO urges consumers and business owners to learn the difference between counterfeit money and the real thing. 

Bogus bills have been passed at Half Moon Bay businesses in the past. Just last September, SMCSO responded to a report of a counterfeit $100 bill that was passed at More For Less in Half Moon Bay. The customer was not aware the bill was counterfeit but the clerk knew what to look for. The report was then forwarded to the Secret Service for their information. 

Changes made to bills are part of an ongoing effort to help distinguish real currency from fake so more consumers can detect counterfeit. The latest redesign of the U.S. $100 bill is set to enter circulation in October, and the bill has new security features designed to thwart counterfeiters. Some portions of the new $100 are printed in a color-shifting ink that would be extremely difficult for counterfeiters to duplicate. For example, the Liberty Bell on the note will appear to shift from copper to green when the bill is tilted.

Still, counterfeit awareness starts with knowing everything to look for and information from the U.S. Secret Service can help, according to the SMCSO. 

The first tip from the Secret Service? Always look at the money you receive. Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences, not similarities

If you want to avoid getting stuck with a counterfeit bill, here are the eight best ways to spot counterfeit money.   

Portrait The genuine portrait appears lifelike and stands out distinctly from the background. The counterfeit portrait is usually lifeless and flat. Details merge into the background, which is often too dark or mottled.    

Federal Reserve and Treasury Seals On a genuine bill, the saw-tooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals are clear, distinct, and sharp. The counterfeit seals may have uneven, blunt, or broken saw-tooth points.    

Border The fine lines in the border of a genuine bill are clear and unbroken. On the counterfeit, the lines in the outer margin and scrollwork may be blurred and indistinct.    

Serial Numbers Genuine serial numbers have a distinctive style and are evenly spaced. The serial numbers are printed in the same ink color as the Treasury Seal. On a counterfeit, the serial numbers may differ in color or shade of ink from the Treasury seal. The numbers may not be uniformly spaced or aligned.    

Paper Genuine currency paper has tiny red and blue fibers embedded throughout. Often counterfeiters try to simulate these fibers by printing tiny red and blue lines on their paper. Close inspection reveals, however, that on the counterfeit note the lines are printed on the surface, not embedded in the paper. It is illegal to reproduce the distinctive paper used in the manufacturing of United States currency.    

The Watermark The watermark is the shadow of the portrait that appears when you hold the bill up to light. Counterfeiters whose bills do have watermarks are usually printing large-denomination bills on paper from small-denomination bills that they have bleached. The watermark portrait must actually match the printed portrait to be genuine.   

The Feel Real currency has a "raised texture" to it because of the type of press used to produce the bills. Counterfeit bills feel flat because they are often made digitally or on an offset press.    

Starch Counterfeit money that is printed on starch-free paper will turn a dark blue or black when marked with an iodine-based counterfeiting pen. The pen reacts to the starch in the paper. If the bill is real, the ink turns yellow.       

If you suspect counterfeit money, call the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office at (650) 363-4911.